Join us for our
D-Day 44 Challenge
Join Team Combat Stress and take on our D-Day 44 Challenge!
On the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, come with us to Normandy to race across its historic beaches, finishing at the iconic Pegasus Bridge.
Registration for the event is now closed as we have limited places left. Please contact challenges@combatstress.org.uk for further information.
Raised so far
£184,647
Our goal
£130,000
Incl. Gift Aid
Register
We have closed registration due to limited places left in the event. Please contact challenges@combatstress.org.uk for further information on how to join the D-Day Challenge.
The registration fee is £150pp and this goes towards your initial travel cost.
Choose the distance
Choose one of three challenges - a 22-mile walk, a 22-mile run or a 44-mile ultra-run. All challenges take place on 6 June 2024 and finish at Pegasus Bridge
Raise vital funds
Share your fundraising page and spread the word! Get your family and friends to sponsor your challenge and raise vital funds in support of veterans' mental health. Option 1: £1250 fundraising target. Option 2: £600 self funded with a £650 fundraising target.
The origins of the D-Day 44 Challenge
With thanks to Mike and Jo McErlain
Lt Col Mike McErlain, Trauma Spine and Orthopaedic Surgeon, served in Iraq, Afghanistan, including tours of Bosnia and Northern Ireland and was attached to the Parachute Regiment. Mike co-founded the D-Day Challenge with brother-in-law Giles Barnes in 2009, to remember the fallen soldiers of 1944 and those who sacrifice their lives today for our country. Tragically, Mike died on the 6th June 2013, aged 45, while running the Normandy beaches for charity.
With the support of Combat Stress, Joanna, Mike's wife, has continued the D-Day Challenge in his memory.
The running and walking routes of this challenge take you on a fantastic course through corn, wheat and barley fields as you head down the Normandy coastline over sand dunes, through marsh land and pebble beaches. You will follow forgotten paths and rocky outcrops and pass through beautiful Norman villages.
The beaches are set alive during this first week of June with people from all over the world, driving WWII vehicles, some even wearing old WWII uniforms. Amongst these people are hundreds of war veterans, some of whom lived through D-Day and proudly wear their medals and tell their amazing stories.
The D-Day 44 Challenge commemorates the 1944 Allied invasion of occupied France. For those who are passionate about adventure and sporting challenges, the challenge offers the perfect opportunity to indulge these passions. The walk/run allows you to appreciate fully the sacrifices made by our forefathers, as well as current servicemen, who have bravely fought to protect our way of life.
5th - 8th JUNE 2024
THE CHALLENGE
Taking place between 5-8th June in Normandy, France. This four-day package includes return transport from London, three-nights’ accommodation, all meals, including a pasta party the night before and full medical and event support.
There is a 22-mile walk, a 22-mile run and a 44-mile ultra-run to choose from. Participants choose their distance and their fundraising option.
The route starts at the Pointe du Hoc. This is where Colonel Rudder led an elite group of 200 rangers up the chalk cliffs using ropes and ladders. After dispatching the German sentries at the top of the cliff, their mission was to find and destroy large battery guns. This action was crucial as these large guns were capable of firing shells several miles out to sea and would therefore have claimed many men’s lives who would be arriving at Utah beach the following morning. After destroying the guns, but alerting a large German infantry force, Colonel Rudder and his men fought bravely with their backs to the sea.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 - TRAVEL TO FRANCE
Travel by coach from London to your overnight accommodation in France via the Eurotunnel.
DAY 2 - D-DAY CHALLENGE
Tackle the 44 mile or 22 mile D-Day Challenge.
DAY 3 - SIGHTSEEING
Take a tour of the local sites and memorials around Caen.
DAY 4 - RETURN TO UK
Return travel by coach from France to London via the Eurotunnel and on to home.
READY TO GO?
Option 1 (Minimum Sponsorship) - You pay a £150 registration fee and agree to raise a minimum £1250 sponsorship. We ask that 80% of the fundraising target is raised by 25th March 2024.
Option 2 (Own Place) - You pay a £150 registration fee, plus £600 for the balance of the tour costs. You agree to raise a minimum of £650.
Pippa just donated £24- Daran just donated £21
- Steven Miller just donated £10
- Anonymous just donated £10.60
- Alex just donated £106
- Margaret and Peter Wheeler just donated £53
- Scott Irving just donated £10.10
- Audrey Hamilton-Nealon just donated £26.50
- Wiggy just donated £5.30
- Shaun Tony Aymard just donated £21.20
- Martin Peak just donated £21.20
- Phil Westoby just donated £21.20
- Helen Bowman & family just donated £92.22
- Anonymous just donated £75
- Stephen Coker just donated £106
- Anonymous just donated £10.60
- Dean Penn just donated £10
- Jonathan Burns just donated £10.60
- Richard & Louise Bowman just donated £106
- Peter Baines just donated £20.90
Leaderboards
Connect with our D-Day 44 Challenge community
#DDay44Challenge
@combatstress
Join Team Combat Stress on Strava to track your miles, share your personal best, and see your place on the event leaderboard.
Sharing your miles on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are all great ways to let everyone know you’re taking part in the D-Day 44 Challenge so they can support you and we can thank you.
Be a part of our community and use the hashtag #DDay44Challenge if you would like your photo featured below. We always love to see what our amazing fundraisers get up to!
